consolation
n. countablen. something that makes you feel better when you are sad or disappointed. It can be a kind word, a small gift, or just the fact that others are also struggling.
n. comfort or solace provided to someone who is suffering from disappointment, grief, or failure.
A cup of tea was her only consolation.
He accepted the silver medal as a consolation for missing the gold.
The promise of future success offered little consolation for the immediate pain of defeat.
From Old French consolacion (French consolatio), from Latin cōnsōlātiō, from the deponent verb cōnsōlor (“I console, encourage”) with the -tiō suffix, while cōnsōlor comprises the intensifying prefix con- with the deponent verb sōlor (“I comfort, console”). Equivalent to console + -ation. Doublet of consolatio.